Window regulator



Aug. 20, 1940. A. J. ZWIERZINA I WINDOW REGULATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 1938 [NVE NTOR 1 247622774.

A TTORNEY 1940- A. J. ZWIERZINA 0 WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Nov. 28, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [{V VENTQR H1025 J 217161322774- BY A TTORNEY Aug. 20, 1940. A. J. ZWIERZINA WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Nov. 28, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 g?/ n zpf/ [N VENTOR /7 Z 01 5 11 (/2274. Y

' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,212,220 WINDOW REGULATOR Alois J. Zwierzina, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Ackerman-Blaesser-Fezzey, Inc., Detroit, Mich,

a corporation of Michigan Application November 28, 1938, Serial No. 242,669 6 Claims. (Cl. 268-132) This invention relates to window regulators, and an object of the invention is to provide a window regulator and a mechanism for operating the same including a crank and a reciprocable rack on which the crank may be positioned at various distances relative to the regulator mechanism and be positioned on one side or the other for a right or a left hand operation and in which the crank mechanism and rack may be adjusted about the axis of the actuator pinion for the regulator-mechanism.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a window regulator having a dual bearing on the window with an even pressure thereon in raising or lowering a window and maintaining the same in balance even without use of guides at opposite sides of the window to maintain a true movement of the window in a vertical plane.

Anther major feature and object of the invention is to provide a structure including a vertically movable rack connected at one end to the window raising and lowering arms at the point of crossing and with the short end of the arms pivotally connected with links permitting movement of the arms about the axis of the connection of the rack therewith whereby the said axis on which the arms are pivoted moves upwardly or downwardly as the rack is raised or lowered and thereby secure a vgreater movement in a vertical plane of the ends of the armsriding the sash ways for revolution of the actuating pinion than has heretofore been possible.

A further major feature of the invention resides in the provision of a rack and actuating pinion therefor and a. rack or operating pinion that is angularly adjustable to thereby locate the operating mechanism at various points in a'vertical plane adapting the device for installation in automobiles with variously arranged window openings and also to provide a structure in which the mechanism may be used for operation in a right or a left hand direction. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a window regulator and remote control therefor comprising a pair of racks, one of which is oper ated by the remote control to turn a pinion and the pinion being arranged to operate the other rack to control the window regulating mechamsm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a window regulator and remote control including a replaceable link determining the distance of the remote cont ol from the regulating mechanism.

. A feature and object of the invention isto provide a pinion operated window regulator, a rack for engaging the same and a control mechanism for operating the rack, the rack being positionable in various angular relationships in the 5 plane of actuation of the pinion.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of 10 construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of a window regulator and remote control showing the window in the raised position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the window in the lowered position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isan enlarged section taken on line 20 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a face view of an alternative form of remote control mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1-! of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an elevation showing the relationship of the parts with the control mechanism on the opposite side of the raising and lowering mech- 0 anism from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown in Fig. 1, the window regulator comprises a sheet metal plate I which is secured at the raised corners 2 to a door panel 3. This panel is shown broken away soas not to cover the regulating mechanism and the panel is usually covered with fabric 4 to provide a finished appearance. The plate I, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is spaced from the panel 3 by the raised corners 2 and is provided with a vertical depressed Q, A sheet 40 channel 6 to receive the gear rack 1. metal plate 8 shown in the various figures is mounted on the plate I and is secured thereto by the rivets 9.

This plate 8 is provided with a transverse raised channel II] for the gear rack H and is also provided with an enlargement I2 to receive the pinion I4 which is shown more particularly in Fig. 3. The rack ll extends between the plate I and the plate 8 as shown in Fig. 5 and through the channel I0 and may be moved through the channel In in either direction.

The pinion l4 meshes with both gear racks l and H and turning of this pinion M will raise or lower the gear rack 1 depending upon whether h the pinion is turned in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. At the upper end of the gear rack l, a pair of operating arms [5 and I6 are pivotally mounted on a pin I! secured in the upper end of said gear rack. The extreme upper ends of the arms I5 and [6 are provided with rollers 18 riding in the ways [9 of the window sash. The opposite end of each operating arm. is pivotally connected to a link 23 which in turn is pivotally connected at the lower end at 2| to the base plate I. Thus, by upward movement of the gear rack 1, the pivot I7 is raised to turn the arms I5 and it on the links 20 to raise the sash and upon downward movement of the gear rack the pivot I! is lowered to turn the arms on the links 20 to lower the sash. In order to counter-' balance the weight of the sash, a spiral spring 22 is provided having one end engaged in a slot in the stationary pivot pin I! and the other end engaged about a pin 23 on the arm it. Thus, as the gear rack l is moved downwardly, the coiled spring is wound up and, by its tendency to unwind, assists in raising the sash as the gear rack l and pivot ll are moved upwardly.- This movement of the arms l5 and I6 and gear rack I is illustrated in Figs..l and 2.

As shown in Fig. 1, the gear rack H is connected to a'link .24 and this link in turn is connected to a gear rack 25 on the remote control. The remote control comprises a plate2 which may be secured to the door panel and apinion 2'! is provided as shown in Fig. 1 meshing with the gear rack 25 and this pinion 21 is provided with a shaft 28 to which the operating crank (not here shown). may be secured.-

By turning the pinion 21 in a clockwise direction by means of the operating crank, the gear rack 25, link 24 and gear rack H are moved to the left of Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the gear rack l l meshes with the pinion M the pinion M will move the gear rack l downwardly thus moving the pivot ll downwardly and turningthe arms l5 and it from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2 thus lowering the window. By reverse rotation of the pinion 271 the parts may be moved back from theposition shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. l to again raise the window. The link 24 may be made of any desired length and depending upon the length of this link 2 3 the distance of the remote control from the regulator mechanism may be varied. Thus, for one type of automobile, the

- link 24 will necessarily be of a certain length to properly position the shaft 28 so that the. crank is convenient to the operator while in another type of car this link may necessarily be shorter or longer depending upon the desired position of the remote control. Also, by making the plate 8 so that the transverse channel Ill extends at a different angle, the remote control may be Varied in position up or down as suggested by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

At the top, the metal of the channel 6 is turned up at an angle at 29 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

This turned up portion is engaged by the arm l6 when in a lowered position shown'in Fig. 2 while the arm 95 engages the end 30 of this turned up portion to provide a stop for the arms when moved to the completely lowered position;

To provide a stop for the arms in the upper position, a stud 3| is secured in the gear rack 7 at the lower end so that this stud 3i engages the lower edge of the plate I as the gear rack is moved upwardly to the completely raised position and thus stops the mechanism from move ment beyond this point.

The plate 8 is provided with holes for the four rivets 9 while the plate I is provided with a series of three apertures 39 for each rivet 9, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8. By this arrangement, the plate 3 having the way ID for the rack ll may be adjusted in position about the axis 40 of the pinion I4 to vary the angular position of the rack II in relation to the plate I. By securing these rivets through different holes 3Q in the'plate, the position of the shaft 28 for the operating crank may be varied on a radius from the center 30 of the pinion I l to bring the operating crank to the desired position. Also, by means of the replaceable link 24, the distance of the operating crank from the center of the pinion M may be varied.

, It is also possible as shown in Fig. 8 to insert the rack ll from the opposite side of the plate 8 in the way H] and by reversing the position of Y the rack 'l the pinion l4 may be made to mesh with racks on the opposite side from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In order to accommodate the pinion, it is necessary to provide two apertures in the plate l for the shaft 39 of the pinion I4. For this change in position of the plate 8, a series of additional apertures 4| is provided in the plate I for the rivets 9 of the plate 8 so that the plate may be changed in position from that shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 8. By this arrangement, the crank may be positioned on the opposite side' of the regulator and by use of different length links 24 the distance of the crank from the axis ltlmay be varied. This provides a window regulator allowing a great number of variations in position of the operating crank to bring the operating crank to a convenient point for the operator.

An alternative form of remote control mechanism is shownin Figs. 6 and 7. In this form, the pinion 2! for operating the rack 25 is secured to a shaft 33 to which a larger gear 34 is secured. Meshing with this larger gear 34 is a pinion 35 secured to a shaft 36 to which the crank is applied. 'This shaft 36 drives through a standard clutch mechanism in the case 31 and by rotation of the crank the gear reduction may be applied to rotate the pinion 2? and move the rack 25 to operate the window regulating mechanism. This provides increased power for such operation and results in a very easy operating window regulator.

From the foregoing description, it becomes evident that the device is very simple and efficient in operation, provides a remote control which may be varied in position and which produces a positive action and provides a device which accomplishes theobjects described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a window regulator for raising or lowering the sash in the window-openings of automobile bodies having body and door panels, a supporting plate in spaced'relation with a panel, a vertically movable rack,-a vertical way in the supporting plate inwhich said rack is movable, a pairof arms pivoted intermediate their ends in the upper end of the said rack, sash engaging means at the upper ends of the arms, a pair of links pivotally connected at one end to the ends of the arms opposite the sash engaging means and pivotally mounted at the opposite ends on the supporting plate, a second plate secured to the supporting plate in spaced relation therewith and having a recess with the open side facing the supporting plate, a pinion rotatably mounted in the recess and extending outwardly thereof to mesh with said rack, a second rack extending transversely of the first named rack and meshing with the pinion, a way opening through one side of the recess in the second plate for said second rack whereby the second rack may be moved transversely in either direction in its way, a remote control mechanism for moving the second rack longitudinally in its way in either direction to turn the pinion accordingly and a replaceable link between the remote control mechanism and second rack.

2. In a window regulator having a supporting plate, a pinion mounted therein for rotation in either direction on its axis, a vertically movable rack for engaging the same, a pair of arms in pivotal relation intermediate their ends and to which the upper end of the said rack is pivoted, spring means tending to turn the arms about their pivot points toward each other, sash engaging means at the upper end of the arms, a pair of links pivotally connected at one end to the ends of the arms opposite the sash engaging means and pivotally mounted at the opposite end on the supporting plate, a gear operating rack meshing with the pinion, said plate having a cover member rotatably adjustable about the pinion axis and formed with a way for the last named rack and lying at an angle to the rack connected with the arms, and a regulator operating mechanism connected with the pinion rack.

3. In a window regulator having a supporting plate, a pinion mounted therein for rotation in either direction on its axis, a vertically movable rack meshing with the pinion, .a pair of arms pivoted intermediate their ends on the upper end of the said rack, sash engaging means at the upper ends of the arms, a pair of links pivotally connected at one end to the ends of the arms opposite the sash engaging means and pivotally mounted at the opposite ends on the supporting plate, a second gear rack meshing with the pinion, a second plate adjustably secured to the supporting plate and having a way for the second gear rack and a remote control mechanism for moving the second rack longitudinally in its way in either direction to turn the pinion accordingly.

4. In a window regulator, a base plate having a way for a rack, a rack reciprocatable in the said way, a pinion for operating the rack, a pair of crossed sash engaging arms, a pivot pin at the point of the crossing of the arms and to which an end of the rack is pivoted, a pair of links each pivoted to an end of the arm opposite the sash engaging end and pivoted at their opposite ends to the base plate, the base plate being arranged to support the pinion at two opposite points whereby the rack may be turned with the teeth to engage the pinion in either of its positions and adapting the structure for a right or left hand operation, means for actuating the said pinion comprising a rack, a cover plate having a guideway for the rack, said cover plate having an aperture to receive the pinion shaft, and means whereby the cover plate may be varied in posi' tion on the axis of the pinion in either of its locations to change the way for the second rack at a desired angle relative to a horizontal plane.

5. In a window regulator mechanism, a base plate, a cover plate, a pair of crossed sash operating arms, a pin on which the arms are pivoted to turn, one end of the arms having a sash engaging means, links each pivoted at one end to the base plate and at the opposite end to one of the arms, a vertically movable rack pivoted at its upper end on the pivot pin of the arms, a pinion supported between the base plate and cover plate, the cover plate being rotatable on the pinion axis, a second rack engaging the pinion, the cover plate having a guideway for the second rack, the rotatable adjustment of the cover plate relative to the base plate permitting the second rack to be positioned for operation at various radial lines passing through the axis of the pinion, and means for reciprocating the second rack in its way to thereby raise or lower the first rack and the sash.

6. In a window regulator mechanism, a base plate, a pair of crossed sash engaging arms, a pivot pin on which the arms are turnable, a rack and a pinion, for actuating the same to raise or lower the sash engaging arms, a rack for actuating the said pinion, a control mechanism including a crank and pinion for reciprocating the said rack, a plate turnable relative to the base plate on the axis of the pinion and having a way for the last named rack, and means for attaching the cover plate to the base plate to position the way for the rack at any of the number of points rotatively about the pinion axis to thereby position the way for the rack at a desired angle to the horizontal.

ALOIS J. ZW'IERZINA. 

